list_snapshots
Lists all saved render snapshots with their timestamps.
This record as markdown: /tools/0x1f320-why-did-you-render-mcp/list-snapshots.md
What list_snapshots does on Why Did You Render
AI agents call list_snapshots to retrieve information from Why Did You Render without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why list_snapshots is rated Low
This tool queries and returns a list of existing snapshots with metadata (timestamps). It performs no write, execute, destructive, or financial operations. The action is purely informational retrieval, making it a Read category tool with low severity since it only accesses diagnostic performance data without altering system state.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_snapshots' and description 'Lists all saved render snapshots' indicate a retrieval operation with no modification or side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs list_snapshots safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Why Did You Render, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For list_snapshots, this is the rule to start with:
list_snapshots is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Why Did You Render, apply this rule, and every list_snapshots call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about list_snapshots
Lists all saved render snapshots with their timestamps. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Why Did You Render MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Why Did You Render MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_snapshots: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Why Did You Render. Nothing to install.
list_snapshots is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_snapshots rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_snapshots. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
list_snapshots is provided by the Why Did You Render MCP server (0x1f320/why-did-you-render-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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